Double-acting steam-engine.



No. 717,822. PATBNTBD* JAN. 6, 1903'.

' J. .DENEAL.

DOUBLE'AGTING STEAM ENGINE.

APPLIOATIDN FILED Nov. 21V', 1901. y No MODEL.. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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r. DBNBAL. .DOUBLE ACTING STEAM ENGINE APPLIU'ATIGN FILED -NOV. 21,1901,.

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JACKSON DENEAL, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A SSIGNOR OF TWO-FIFTHS TO STEPHENBROPHY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

DOUBLE=ACTING STEAM-ENGINE.

SEECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,822, dated January6, 1903*. Application filed November 21, 190]. Serial No. 83,129. (Nomodel.)

To @ZZ whom; it Tea/y concern:

Beit known that l, JACKSONDENEAL,a citizen of the United States,residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Double-Acting Steam-Engines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of double-actingsteam and other vapor pressure engines in which the piston is alsoutilized as a valve for the exhaust-ports of its cylinder and incompound and multiple-expansion engines of the same class as auinlet-valve also for the next succeeding cylinder provided for utilizingthe furtherexpansion of the exhaust,and has for its objects to producean engine of either kind, rst, that without the use of eccentrics orlinks commonly employed may be started in either direction and readilyreversed by a manual valve in the steam connection; second, that will befree from back pressure; third, that may be connected in pairs to acommon shaft and controlled by a siuglemanual valve in a common steamconnection,and,nally,to produce an engine of the kind that iseconomical, efficient, light running, and adapted to high speed. Iattain these objects by constructing an engine as hereinafter described,and illustrated in the drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a view invertical section of a multiple-expansion engine embodying my invention.X of Eig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section'on line Y Y of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 isa cross-sectionof a piston.l Fig. 5 is a vertical section of 4the samethrough line Z Z, and Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a man ual valveadapted to control engines connected in pairs to a common shaft andhaving a common stein connection.

In the drawings, A designates a valve-cylinder, B a high-pressurecylinder, O an intermediate-expansion cylinder, and D alowpressurecylinder in a series of cylinders of progressively-increased diametersin their order and having their axes in the same plane and arepreferably formed by bores in a single casting 1, but may be formed ofseparate cylinders suitably secured togetherin similar relation.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section on line XA In single-cylinder enginesvalve-cylinder A is connected direct to a cylinder D.

Located in the connecting-Walls between the cylinders A and B, B and C,and C and D are the steam-ducts 2 and 3, leading from outlet-ports 4 and5, respectively, in the smaller cylinder to the inlet-ports 6 and 7,respectively, in the larger cylinder. Outletports 4 and 5 are located onopposite sides of a median line between the -endsof each cylluder and onopposite sides of the common plane of their axes, and the ports 6 and 7are located at oppositeV ends of the cylinder adjacent to the heads'Sand 9. In cylinder D the exhaust-ports 4 and 5 open directly through thecylinder-wall into the exhaust-pipe 10.

E designates a valve-cylinder connected to the side of cylinder A,centrally between its endsl and preferably by a common integral wall,and through the connecting-wall there are also provided steam-ducts 2and 3, leading from outlet-ports 4 and 5, respectively, centrallylocated in the'connectingwall,as in the other cylinders, to inlet-ports6 and 7 respectively, at opposite ends of cylinder A and adjacent totheheads 8 and 9.

The cylinders B, C, and D are respectively provided with the hollowcylindrical pistons b, c, and d,\vhich are each connected to a crank 11cfa com mon shaft 12 by the connecting-rods 13. Pistons b and c, andpreferably d, are each divided into two chambers by a diametricdiaphragm 14, extending from head to head integral with the wall of thepiston, and the pistons are set in their cylinders with their diaphragmein the common plane of their axes.N In piston d, however, the diaphragm14 may be omitted, as shown in Fig. 1, without affecting its operation.Y

The diaphragme 14 are each provided with a central cylindricalenlargement 15 on the line of the axis of the piston, which is pro--vided with a bore 16, coincident with the central oritices 17 of equaldiameter vin the heads 18 and 19 of the pistons, and the connectingrods13 have the end portions connecting with the pistons-reduced in diameterto fit into the bores 16 and orifice 17 and form shoulders 2O to bearagainst the heads 19 of the pistons and having their outer ends threadedand provided with the nuts 21, by which they are secured to the pistons.The diaphragms 14 are also provided with the reversed semicylindricalrecessses extending each half the length of the piston and divided bythe diaphragm 22, integral with the diaphragms 14, and opposite theouter ends of the recesses the heads of the piston are provided withports 23, having valve-seats 24, each chamber of the piston having aport 23 opening therein.

Fitting the seats 24 are the valves 25 and 25', having a commonconnecting-stem 26, made longer than the piston, so that when one Valveis seated the other is open. Diaphrams 22 are each provided with acentral orifice 27, through which the stems 2G of the valves 25 and 25freely move in the reciprocating movement of the valveshereinafterdescribed. Preferably the orifices 27 are countersunk attheir outer end to seat the valves 28 and 28, suitably mounted on thestem on opposite sides of the diaphragm in such position that the Valves25 and 28 or 25' and 28' on the same side of the diaphragm 22 will seatsimultaneously in -their respective seats.

The pistons l), c, and d are also provided with thelongitudinal ports 29and 30 on opposite sides of the diaphragms 14 through the walls of eachpiston and through the packingring 31, with which each piston isprovided and which extends from head to head of each piston. Ports 29and 30 are so located as to cross ports 4 and 5, respectively, at rightangles as the piston reciprocates and in length ports 29 and 30 areadapted to maintain an open port 4 or 5 for their respectivepistonchambers, according as the stroke is from the half of the cylinderin which said ports are respectively located during the greater part ofthe stroke.

The pistons b, c, and d are each one-half the length of the cylindersbetween the ports 6 and 7, and the stroke is equal to the length of thepistons. In the embodiment shown in the drawings the piston-rods 13 areeach provided with a slotted yoke 32 to engage with the crank-pins 33 ofthe balanced crank-disks 1l, which are mounted on the shaft 12. Thelatter is journaled in bearings 34, which are suitably secured to thebed-plate 35. rlhe lower ends 3b' ofthe piston-rods are extended tooperate as plu ngers in the pump-barrels 37, which are secured to thebed-plate and pendently supported therefrom and' operate as suitableguides for the piston-rods. However, the ordinary guide-bars andcross-head with pitman connection with the crank-shaft may be usedinstead of the yoke connection shown.

Cylinder A is of reduced length and is provided with a piston a, whichis preferably made hollow for lightness and of a length to cover bothports 4 and 5. Piston (thas suitably secured thereto a pistou-rod 38,which is provided with a yoke 39 and an extension 40, the lower end ofwhich passes through an orilice 41 in the bed-plate. Yoke 39 is providedwith cams 42, projecting within the yoke at opposite points in alinementwith the pistonrod 38, and the latter is provided with collars 43, oneof which is mounted on the main connection and the other on theextension and suitably secured thereto. To the side of cylinder B, inalinement with the piston-rods, is suitably secured a bracket 44, havingan arm 45, provided withan orifice 46, through which the piston-rod 38reciprocates, and mounted on the latter, between the arm 45 and theupper collar 43 and between the lower collar 43 and the bed-plate, arethe helical springs 47 and 47', of equal length and resistance, whichare adj usted to hold the piston a in the normal position of closing theports 4 and 5 of cylinder A, with the yoke 39 concentrically oppositethe end of the shaft in position to allow the pin 48, projecting fromthe end of the shaft and off its center at a radius, to alternatelyengage the cams 42 of the yoke at each half-revolution of the shaft,thereby moving the piston a to alternately open the ports 4 and 5 ofcylinder A, and the springs 47 and 47 alternately returning it to itsnormal position to close them as the pin is passing off the cam. It isapparent that the yoke may be enlarged and the shaft extended through itwhere necessary and the pin 48 set radially thereto.

Valve-cylinder E is provided with a rotary piston-valve mounted on astem 49, suitably journaled and packed in the heads of the cylinder andprovided with any suitable means for manipulation. Valve e is providedwith ports 50 and 5l, adapted to be successively or simultaneouslybrought to register with the ports 4 and 5 of the cylinder E.

52 designates a connecting pipe to the steam-supply.

Each of the heads 9 of the cylinders is provided with a suitablestuffing-box 53 for packing the piston-rods.

54 designates a power-transmission wheel, and 55 a fly-wheel mounted onthe shaft.

In Fig. 6 is shown a valve-cylinder E adapted to couple together eitherpairs of right and left single-cylinder or similar pairs ofmultiple-expansion engines that are connected to the same shaft.

The yoke-pin 48 and the crank-pin for the piston c are each set at onehundred and eighty degrees from the crank-pins of pistons b and d, andwhen engines are coupled to the same shaft in pairs the cranks andyoke-pins of one engine are set at ninety degrees from those of theother.

It is apparent that valve e when its ports are in register with theports 4 and 5 of cylinder E, as shown in Fig. 1, may be used as athrottle to partially or wholly cut oft the steam by turning the valveeither to the right or left, and that by continuing to turn the valve inthe same direction a single one of the ports will be open, and that byreversing the movement the single port will first be closed, and thenboth ports 4 and 5 will be IOO IIO

opened simultaneously. It is further apparent that When both ports 4 and5 of cylinder E are open the pressure on the heads of piston d will beequal and the piston balanced, that if port 5 only is opened thepressure will be on one end only and the piston will be moved to openport 5 of cylinder A, and if port 4 of cylinder E is open and port 5closed the pressure on piston a will move it to open port 4 of cylinderA.

Thus constructed and operating the engine may be started to the left ifthe crankof piston l) is behind the outer and past the inner center byopening port 4 of cylinder E, if past the outer and behind the innercenter by opening port 5 of cylinder E, or it may be started to theright in like positions of the crank by reversing the order of openingthe ports 4 and 5. If the crank is in the irstnamed position, by openingport 4 of cylinder E steam is admitted into cylinder A through port 6and overcoming the resistance of the lower spring piston d is moved toopen port 4 of that cylinder, which admits the steam to cylinder Bthrough port 6 of the latter cylinder, thereby driving the crank to theleft. By opening port 5' instead of port 4 of cylinder E the movement ofthe crank Would be to the right. If the crank is in the second-namedposition, it will be moved to the left by opening port 5 and to theright by opening port 4 of cylinder E. Having started the movement ofpiston h in either direction by a quick turn of the valve e, openingboth ports 4 and 5 oit' cylinder E simultaneously, an equilibrium ofpressure will be established in cylinder A, and as the crank is passinga center the pin 48 will open a port 4 or 5 of cylinder A, ac-

. charge of steam atthe beginningofeach stroke to the end of cylinderBfrom which the stroke is made closes the automatic pressure-valve atthat end of the piston b and opens the valve in the opposite end. It theposition of piston b is as shown in Fig. l, a portion of the exhaust inthe opposite end of the cylinder will have passed through the port 5,the ductA 3, and the port 7 into the cylinder C before port 5 is closedby the return of the piston, and the pressure of the partially-expandedcharge of the preceding stroke will have been further reduced thereby,and by the opening of the valve 25' in that end of the piston as thepiston returns to that end of the cylinder the exhaust-steam therein,which would otherwise be bottled upand cause back pressure, Y escapesthrough the valve 25 into its cham-` ber of the piston b and thencethrough the port O-for the most part of the stroke continuously inregister with port 5 of cylinder B-into the same end of cylinder C,Where it contributes by further expansion to drive piston c in oppositestroke to-piston b. in like manner also the valve 25 of piston cisautomatically closed by the excess pressurev of the exhaust fromcylinder B over the reexpanded charge in the opposite end of cylinder C,also further reduced in pressure by the portion escaped through 4port 4otl cylinder C to cylinder D at the close of the precedingstroke ofpiston c, and in like manner as described for cylinder B the remainderofthe exhaust of cylinder C escapes through the open valve 25 of thepiston c and through port 29 of piston c, in register With the port 4 ofcylinder C, into cylinder D, where it contributes by its furtherexpansion to drive piston d in opposite stroke to piston c, the freeescape of the exhaust from cylinder yC pre- -Venting back pressure inthat cylinder also.

During this stroke of piston nl the steam in the opposite end ofcylinder D, lrst expanded in cylinder B, rexpanded in cylinder C, and athird time expanded in cylinder D during vthe preceding stroke of pistond, is freely escaping through the open valve 25., the ports 30 and 5,and the exhaust-pipe l0, in like manner, as described, preventing anyback pressure in cylinder D.

l It is manifest thatrthe useof a diaphragm 14 in the piston of the lastcylinder of a series of expansion-cylinders and in engines having onlyone working cylinder is not necessary and may be omitted, as shown incylinder D 'of Fig. l; but in the first and intermediate cylinders 'of aseries they serve to prevent equalization of pressu res and to keepseparate the charges of steam admitted through ports 4 and 5,respectively, of cylinder A and directing them through the correspondingports of each of the intermediate cylipders to the exhaust-ports of thelast cylinder.

In Fig. 6 is shown a single-valve cylinder E for controlling a pair ofengines coupled in reverse to the same shaft. `In these engines thecylinder E' connects the cylinders A of the engines, as shown in Fig. 6,and is provided in each connection with ports 4 and 5 for each cylinderA. Cylinder E'` is provided with a rotary piston-valve e', having twosets of radial ports 50 and 5l, one set on each side and adapted toregister with the ports 4 and 5 in both connections simultaneously.lThus constructed it is apparent that the movement of the valve thatwill open port 4 and close port 5 of one side Will open port 5 and closeport 4 of the other, and, Vice versa, and that the same movementrequired to open both ports 4 and 5 on one side simultaneously willsimultaneously open ports 4 and 5 on the opposite side.

The crank and yoke pins of one engine being set at ninety degrees fromthose of the other, it Will vreadily be seen that When the crank-pins ofpiston b are on opposite sides of the samecenter the same movement ofthe IOO IXO

valve e' that will start one engine in the desired direction will startthe other in the same direction and that when the crank-pins are on thesame side of lthe centers, except when they are balanced at forty-livedegrees, one from the inner and the other from the outer center, theopening of one port on each side will start the engines in the directionto drive the crank nearest a center toward that center. If that happensto be opposite to the desired direction, as soon as the movement hascontinued far enough to bring the cranks on opposite sides of the samecenter by reversing the valve to close the diametric ports 4 and 5 thatare open and to open the other diametric ports 4 and 5 the engines willstart in the desired direction, and by continuing the movement of thevalve in the same direction, to simultaneously bring all four of theports of the valve in register with the ports 4 and 5 of the cylinder,the engines will be established as running. Thus it will be seen that anengine so constructed, except as hereinbefore pointed ont, whatever maybe the relative positions of the cranks to their centers may be startedin either direction and stopped and reversed, as desired, by a singlemanual valve in the steam connection without the use of links,eccentrics, or other similar appliances usually employed for controllingthe engine-valves for such purpose, and it will further appear that thesame valve is adapted to vary the volume of steam admitted from acondition of closure up to the full capacity of the ports, and viceversa.

Where a uniform steam-pressure is maintained, by reducing the throw ofthe cams of the yoke the cut-off may be so proportioned to the stroke asto practically utilize the full expansion of the steam in a singlecylinder.

It is apparent also that the efficiency of the engine is greatlyincreased by the means provided for the free exit of the exhaust as thepiston advances in its stroke.

Having thus fully described my in vention, what I claim to be new is- 1.In a double-acting engine, the combination with a cylinder having anexhaust-port located in its wall on the median line between its heads,and an inlet-port adjacent to each head, of a hollow piston for thecylinder of a length equal to half the distance between the inlet-portsand having a stroke equal to its own length, and a side port extendedlongitudinally and located to register with the exhaust-port of thecylinder during the greater portion of the stroke; a port in eachpistonhead at opposite points, each port having an outer valve-seat;valves for the piston-head ports, connected by a common stem of a lengthto hold the opposite valve open when either valve is closed, and guidesfor the stem adapted to aline the valves with their seats and allow freemovement of the stem, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a double-acting engine, the combination with a cylinder havingexhaust-ports located centrally in its wall on opposite sides of a planeof its axis and of a median line between the heads and paralleltherewith, and an inlet-port located in its wall adjacent to each head,of a hollow piston for the cylinder equal in length to one-half thedistance between the inlet-ports, and having a stroke equal to itslength and side ports extended longitudinally and adapted to registereach with an exhaust-port of the cylinder during a portion of itsstroke; a wall longitudinally dividing the piston into two chambers andseparating the side ports of the piston one to each chamber;reversely-disposed recesses in the dividing-wall extendinglongitudinally from opposite heads to a common diaphragm parallel withthe heads and integral with the dividing-wall; a port in eachpiston-head at opposite points, each port being opposite a recess andopening into opposite chambers of the piston, and having an outervalve-seat; valves for the ports having a common stem extending throughan orifice in the diaphragm, in central alinement with the ports, thestem being of a length to hold the opposite valve open when either valveis closed, substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose setforth.

3. In a double-acting engine, the combination with a cylinder havingexhaust-ports located centrally in its wall on opposite sides of a planeof its axis and of a median line between the heads and paralleltherewith, and an inlet-port located in its wall adjacent to each head,of a hollow piston for the cylinder equal in length to one-half thedistance between the inlet-ports, and having a stroke equal to itslength, and provided with a packing-ring extending from head to head andside ports through the piston-wall and the packing-ring extendedlongitudinally and adapted to register each with an exhaust-port of thecylinder during a portion of its stroke; a wall longitudinally dividingthe piston into two chambers and separating the side ports of the pistonone to each chamber; reversely-disposed recesses in the dividing-wallextending longitudinally from opposite heads to a common diaphragmparallel with the heads and integral with the dividing-wall; a port ineach piston-head at opposite points, each port being opposite a recessand opening into opposite chambers of the piston, and having an outervalve-seat; valves for the ports having a common stem extending throughan orifice in the diaphragm, in central alinement with the ports, thestem being of a length to hold the opposite valve open when either valveis closed, substantially as shown and described and for the purpose setforth.

4. In a double-acting engine, the combination with a cylinder havingexhaust-ports located centrally in its wall on opposite sides of aplaneof its axis and of a median line between the heads and paralleltherewith and an inlet-port located in its wall adjacent to each head,of a hollow piston for the cylinder IIO equal in length to one-half thedistance between the inlet-ports, and having a stroke equal to itslength and side ports extended longitudinally and adapted to registereach with an exhaust-port of the cylinder during a portion of itsstroke; a Wall longitudinally dividing the piston into two chambers andseparating the side ports of the piston one to each chamber;reversely-disposed recesses in the dividing-Wall extendinglongitudinally from opposite heads to a com mon diaphragm parallel withthe heads and integral With the dividing-Wall; a port in eachpiston-head at opposite points, each port being opposite a recess andopening into opposite chambers of the piston, and having an outervalve-seat; valves for the ports having a common stem extending throughan orifice in the diaphragm, in central alinement with the ports,thestem being of a length to hold the opposite valve open when eithervalve is closed, and shoulders on the stem on opposite sides of thediaphragm, substantially as shown and described and for the purpose 'setforth.

In a double-acting engine, the combination with a Working cylinderhaving inlet and outlet ports and a piston operatively connected to acrank-shaft, of a valve-cylinder connected thereto, having a pair ofoutletports located centrally of the division-Wall between the cylinderson opposite sides of a median line between the heads, leading to theinlet-ports of the Working cylinder; inlet ports for the valve-cylinderlocated adjacent to its heads; a piston for the valve-cylinder of alength to close both of the outlet-ports of the valve-cylinder; aconnecting-rod for the valve-piston having a yoke concentric to theshaft; a guide for the connecting-rod;

cams on the yoke at diametric points transverse the line of theconnecting-rod; a pin set in the shaft at one hundred and eighty degreesfrom the crank-pin of the piston of the Working cylinder and adapted toengage the cams of the yoke; balanced helical' springs, mounted on theconnecting rod,

adapted to yieldingly hold the piston of the valve-cylinder in positionnormally closing the outlet-ports of the valve-cylinder, and,

after being moved therefrom in either direction-either by unequalpressure of steam on the heads of the piston, or by engagement of thepin with a cam-to return the piston thereto When equilibrium of pressurehas been restored or the pin has passed the cam,

and means to admit steam to the valve-cylinder through either of itsinlet-ports or through both simultaneously.

G. In a double-acting engine, the combination With a working cylinderprovided with inlet and outlet ports and a piston operatively connectedto a crank-shaft, of a valve mechanism comprising a valve-cylinderhaving outlet-ports leading to inlet-ports of the Working cylinder, anda piston yieldingly held in a position normally closing the outlet-portsby balanced springs; a steam connection having a pair of ports leadinginto opposite ends of the Valve-cylinder; a manual valvein the steamconnection adapted to progressivelyI open or close either of said portsin the same connection singly, or both simultaneously; and meansincluding the balanced springs, adapted to be periodically operated bythe crank-shaft to reciprocate the valve-piston at the beginning andduring a limited portion of each stroke of the piston, of the Workingcylinder to admit an elastic fluid under pressure to the Workingcylinder to make the stroke.

'7. In a double-acting engine, the combination with a Working cylinderprovided With inlet and outlet ports and a piston operatively connectedto a crank-shaft, of a valve mechanism comprising a valve-cylinderhaving outlet-ports leading to inlet-ports of the working cylinder, anda piston yieldingly held in a position normally closing the outlet-portsby balanced springs; asteam connection having a pair of ports leadinginto opposite ends of the valve-cylinder; a manualvalve in the steamconnection adapted to progressively open or close either of said portsin the steam connection singly; or both simultaneously; a rod for thevalve-piston having a yoke concentric to the shaft; a guide for thevalvepiston rod; cams in the yoke at diametric points in the line of theconnecting-rod and a pin set in the shaft at one hundred and eightydegrees from the crank-pin of the piston of the working cylinder adaptedto engage the cams of the yoke alternately as the shaft revolves.

' 8. In a doubleacting engine, the combinai tion with a working cylinderprovided with inlet and outlet ports and a piston operatively connectedto the crank-shaft, of avalve mechanism comprising a valve-cylinderhaving outlet-ports leading to inlet-ports of the Working cylinder, anda piston yieldingly held. in a position normally closing theoutlet-ports by balanced springs; a manual valve-cylinder having a pairot ports leading into opposite ends of the valve-cylinder; a piston inthe manual valve-cylinder normally closing the ports of its cylinder,having a pair of ports adapted to be brought to register With the portsof the cylinder by manual movement of the piston, and means includingthe balanced springs adapted to be periodically operated by thecrank-shaft to reciprocate the valvepisto'n at the beginning and duringa limited portion of each stroke of the piston of the Working cylinderto admit an elastic duid under pressure to the working cylinder to makethe stroke, substantially as shown and described.

9. The combination with a pair of doubleacting engines each comprising aWorking cylinder provided with inlet and outlet ports and a pistonoperatively connected to a common crank-shaft having the crank for onepiston set at ninety degrees from the crank for the other; avalve-cylinder connected to IOO IIC

each Working cylinder With'their axes in the same plane, and havingoutlet-ports leading to the inlet-ports of the Working cylinder and apiston yieldingly held by balanced springs in a position normallyclosing its outlet-ports, and means, including the balanced springs,adapted to be periodically operated by the crank-shaf t to reciprocatethe valve-piston at the beginning and during a limited portion of eachstroke of the piston of the working cylinder to admit an elastic fluidunder pressure to the Working cylinder to make the stroke, of a commonsteam connection for the valve-cylinders having a pair of ports for eachvalve-cylinder, the ports of each pair leading respectively intoopposite ends of JACKSON DENEAL.

Witnesses:

O. B. SNIDER, BERTHA DONNELS.

